Universal joint



Aug. 12 1924. l 1,504,786

c. H. RxcHARDs UNIVERSAL JOINT Filed June 24. 1920 s sheets-sheet 1 Aug. 12 1924.

. c. H. RICHARDS UNIVERSAL JOINT Filed June 24. 1920 s sheesheet 2 Ihn/mim: b CM VM y l MN5.

Aug. 12 1924. 1,504,786

`c. H. RICHARDS UNIVERSAL JOINT Filed June 24 1920 3 Sheets--Shee 3 Aiwa.

Patented Aug. 12, 1924.

UNITED STATES GAR-ROLL H. RICHARDS, F

NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

'UNIVERSAL JOINT.

Application filed June 24,

To c55 whom t 'may concern.'

Be it known that l, CARROLL H. Riorranns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newton, county of Middlesex, State of ltassachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Universal Joints, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to a new and useful improvement in universal joints. lt relates especially to that class of universal joints which are employed to connect two shafts. The invention is an improvement on the device shown and described in Letters Patentl No. 960,327, June 7, 1910, to Lewis M. Hosea. In the device shown in said patent the joint comprises two bifurcated coupling elements and an intermediate spherical element connected with said bifurcated elements, said spherical element being made hollow and used also as an oil reservoir for lubrication of the rubbing surfaces.

One feature of the present invention relates to the oiling mechanism. Another feature of the invention relates to a dust protector for the joint. V@ther features will be set forth more particularly in the specifl cation and claims hereinafter.

ln the device shown in said prior patent.l the ball formed with minute apertures through which the oil is driven by centrifugal force during the rotation of the su. ft and joint. It has been found that although these apertures were inade very minute, being open throughout, the `oil discharges too freely and results in a loss of oil as well as a gumming up of the parts, and other objections due to an excess of oil in the parts which are to be lubricated.

object of the present invention is to provide means to prevent the too free discharge of oil from the ball reservoir while still Vutilizingthe centrifugal force in part to lfeed t1 a@ne means by which. this 'is accomplished is hy the use of wicks in forni of plugs which close the apertures sufficiently to pre.- rent discharge of the oil in jets or lspray and which are of suitable material to perinit slow passage of the oil by capillary attraction ter the manner of a slow feeding wiclr, so that the oil is applied to the parts by the rubbing Contact `of the wick. oil is not driven out in spurts or in a spray, as in the said patent, although the centrif- The i 1920. Serial No. 391,500.

ugal force somewhat aids the capillary attraction of the wick.

Means for still further reducing the centrifugal force consists in making the oil passage of such forni that instead of takinn` a radial or straight outward course as in the said prior patent, it has an angular course whereby after having first moved in a radially outward direction it meets with an obstruction and is then caused to turn andflow in a somewhat backward direction thus checking the force of the discharge, and then to turn in an outward direction again against the action of the centrifugal force. l The invention will be fully understood from the following` description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will he pointed ont and clearly defined in the claims at the close of this specification.

ln the drawings, Fig. l is a view of a universal oint enihodying the invention.

Fig. 2 .is a section on line 2-2 of Figure l.

Fig'. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Figure 1 Figs. l, 5 and 6 are respectively detail views of one ofthe forks, the ball joint and the` strap for the fork.

; Fig. is a section taken on line 7-7`of Figure 5. Y

Fig. 8 isa section on line S of Figure 4.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of the dust covers.

Fig. lO is a sectional view of a universal joint showing a modified. form of my invention.

[Fig: ll is a section taken on line l1 of Figure l0.

Fig. l2 is a detail view showing one of the Vforks for the oint shown in Figures l0 and 1l and the strap therefor in disassembled relation.

Fig. 13 is a detail viewv of one of the bushings used with the modified form of joint.

Fig. 14 is a section taken on line 141-14 of Figure 13.

Fig. l5 is a sectional view showing another modified forni of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, l() and 11 represent the Shanks of the two bifurcated c upling elements, and l2 the spherical oil containing element with which said bifurcated elements are connected. Each of the two lshank members lO-ll is constructed for engagement with contiguousendsof twoY shafts v(not shown) which `are to Abe con-v nected together by the joint. The two coupling V'elements 10`11 are duplicates of each other'and are connected in like manner with the hollow sphere or ball 12, but the jaws of Yone coupling element lie'inra plane at an 'Y angle to each other then the, axes of the yShanks of the' coupling elements will be at an angle to each other, but the planes of the two sets ofk jaws will always loe maintained j at right angles to each other.

` TheV coupling element 10 is formed with twov 4similar jaws 13-13 'each Vhaving an inner periphery on an arc of a circle, and the outer ends of said'two aws areconnected by a semi-circular strap 14 whose inner periphery. combines with the inner periphery o-f the two jaws 13-13 to encircle Athe ball 12.'. TheY jaws A113-13 are .forined respectively7 with lugs 15-15 at their/outer ends, and the strapllf is formed withY lugs 16-16 'at' its ends whose faces engage the faces of the lugs 153-15 .resped tively,` .The said lugs are formed with bolt holes, sothatthe strap may be detachably Y connected with the aws byY bolts 17.

The combined jaws and strap have a tongue and groove connectionwith the ball 12 by a sliding fit. The preferred form is to provide the ballrwith the grooves and to provide the jawsV and strap withftongues.

' This construction is shown in Figures 1 to V8. This arrangement, however, may be reversed so as to have the jaws and strap provided with grooves and have the ball provided'with the tongues. This latter method is shown' in Figure 15. l i

1n the fornrshown in Figures 1 to 8,V the jaws 13 Yare each formed withvtongues 8 on an arc of a circle;concentricwith the periphery of the ba ll, and the ball is formed with parallel peripheral flanges 19-19 forming between them af groove Y30 within which the tongues Shave a sliding fit. The'strap 14 is also formed with tongues 2 whichform a slidvfitrin the groove 30 formed between the flanges `19--19 ofthe ball.

- .As already'stated the other coupling member connected with the shank V11 .is constructed in a similar manner torthat already described with reference to the first coupling member. It hasrthe jaws 21-#21 provided withl arc-shaped tongues 3 which engage with groovesformed between Ythe peripheral flanges 23--23 on the outer periphery of the ball Vwhich intersect the grooves formed b v the flanges 19-19 at right angles thereto.

where they pass through the flanges l) and 23 cut through the inner face of the flange, as shown in Figure 5, thus forming a narrow slit 1l; through the walls of the flanges into the' grooves 30 which are engaged. by the tongues 2 and 8.

YPlugging wicks 7 are inserted in these several apertures, the inner ends extending into the interior of the ball, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, so that they dip into the oil within the ball and extend outward to the outer end of the flanges 19 and Q3. These wicks should fit very snugly in the apertures to plug the apertures tight` so that no oil will pass through them except by the capillary attraction of the wicks aided 'slightly by the centrifugal force. Prefers ably these wicks arev made of leather although they might be of fibre, or other suitable compressible and flexible material, but I prefer leather to vegetable fibre because while it is compressible and is sutlirienily fibrous to allow a certain amount of capillary attraction for the oil, vet does not allov; such free capillary attraction as does vegetable fibre. It serves as a plug through which the oil will very slowly prrn'ieale.

The inner face 28 of that pmt-ion of each wick which comes against the slit 4l; will becomexflattened by its contact with the sidel face of the tongues.

As the centrifugal force during the rotation of the shaft and joint tends to throw the oil outwardly, if there were a straight passage between the members of' the joint, even a crevice, directly outward from the end of the wick, the oil would be expelled from the joint and thus would escape through the joint in excessive quantities even with the use of the plugging wick. For this reason I providel an interrupted path for the oil after it leaves the end of the wick. In the preferred form of construction the outward ends of the flanges or ribs 1) and Q8 are rabbeted, and the jaws 13 and 2l are also rabbeted to fit the rabbeted en( s ol the flanges, as shown in Figures 3, 7 and S. rThe rabbets thus form lips 32 on the jaws and lips 33 on the flanges of the ball, which overlap each other, as shown in Figure 5?-, preferably the flanges on the jaws are outside of llo the flanges on the ball, although it is obvious that the arrangement might be reversed. It will thus be seen that as the oil follows the wich outwarc, it strikes against a shoulderI 34 in the jaw at the end of thewicln and thence is obliged to flow backward between the lips 32 and 33 in an opposite direction to the action of centrifugal force until it strikes the shoulder formed by the rabbet in the lange19 of the ball where it meets with obstruction and then passes laterally outward between the lip 32 and the shoulder 35of the flange 19.

It will vthus be seen that the oil will be applied by thewicls or plugs tothe side faces of the tongues 8 and of the flanges 19, and will also traverse allthe crevices in the joint but will be retarded in its passage by reason of its being compelled to flow back wards in ari-opposite direction to the action of the centrifugal force.

To protect the joint against theentrance of dust, I provide dustplates or covers 36 which are secured to the flanges of the ball to cover the crevices 37; Preferably these dust covers are somewhat horseshoe-shaped, as shown in Figure 9, being shaped to lit over the parts. Each dustcover is preferably a thin sheet of metal or fibre, or other suitable material, in flattened shape as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 9, so that itlits Vsnug up against the flat outer faces of the aws', having the two arc-shaped inner edges V33 --38 to clear the curved periphery of the ball, and having the wide groove 39 with `arcshaped base to straddle the strap o f the other pair of coupling elements, the ends 45, being' spaced apart from each other to permit them to straddle the jaw and dust covers of the said other pair ofcoupling elements. Each dust cover is secured in position by screws passing through holes 4 6 in the `dust 41 which lap over the outer sides of the flanges of the ball, and engage with the cover and into holes 47 in the flanges on the shoulder formed by the rabbetedouter face of the side flanges of the ball, as shown in Figure 11. In this case the tongues 81 and 31 are made thin enough so that the bushing will lit between the tongues and the flanges of the ball through which the wich aperture is made, so that the bushing is en- "gaged the side of the wick which projects through the slot in the side of the flange of the ball, as in Figure 3. The oil follows the inner face of the bush and is transmitted to the several rubbing parts of the joint.

' In order to'locl the said bushings in position, they are each formed with a laterally extending flange 42 (see Figure 13) lprojecting from its inner periphery, said flange being bent at each end to form a beveled faced tooth 43, and the tongues 81 ofthe jaws'and 211 of the cooperating straps are formed with notches 44 shaped something lilre a ratchet tooth with which said teeth 43 of the bushing engage to lock the bushings against displacement.

What I claim is: 1. A universal joint comprising two coupling members and an intermediate hollow lubricant holder having a curved periphery, each coupling member having sliding engagement with the periphery of said lubricant holder, means by whichv lubricant is fed from the interior "of said holder to the surfaces of the engaging portions of the said coupling members, and covers closely fitting over the joints between the said coupling members and said lubricant holder to prevent escape 'of lubricant 'and entrance of dust.

2. A universal joint comprising two coupling members and an intermediate hollow lubricant holder, each of said coupling inembers having two jaws and a co-operating strap which encircle the said lubricant holder, means whereby the lubricant is fed from the said holder to the bearing surfaces of the coupling members, covers closely fitting over the joints between the said lubricant holder and the said jaws and straps, to prevent the escape of lubricant and entrance of dust.

3. t universal joint having two coupling elements for Y'connection respectively with tw'o shafts, an intermediateV hollow spherical member, each couplingI element having two jaws anda cooperating strap member which together encircle the spherical member and have tongue and groove engagement with the spherical member, the spherical member being formed. with a plurality of apertures l through its periphery, plugging wicks in said apertures whose inner Vends'are exposed to oil in the interior of the sphericalmember and which conduct the oil through the wall of Vthe spherical Vmember to the said cooperl ating coupling members, and guide lips whichv project toward the spherical member fro'mthle j awe `of the 'coupling members Vand straddle thev walls of thegroov'e `to deect the oil i'n a reverse direction after its passage outwardly by the wick.

4. A universal oint havingtwo coupling 4el'ern'ents for connection respectively with two shafts, an in rmediate hollow 'spherical member, eachfeoupling element having two 'i il) jawsand a cooperating strap member which l togetherv encircle the spherical member and havea tongue and groove engagement with the spherical member, the spherical member beingVv formed with anplurality of apertures Vthrough its periphery, plugging wicks in secured Vto the outer side 'faces of the said `coupling elements and covering the joints l; m between the coupling elements` and the spherical element. Y y

5. A universal'oint having twoV coupling elements for connection respectivelyV with -two shafts, an intermediate hollow spherical member, each coupling element having two j aws'and a cooperatingl strap member which I together' encircle the spherical member and haveia tongue and groove engagement with the spherical member, the spherical member being formed with a plurality of vapertures through its periphery, pluggingY wicks in 'Y 'a lsaid apertureswhose inner endsare exposed to Yoil 4inthe interior of the spherical member Aand which conduct the oil through the wall ofthe spherical member to the said cooperfating coupling members, the apertures in whichv the` wicks are held extending outward through the Vside walls of the grooves, theinner faces Yof the side walls of the grooves being slit'longitu'dinally of the said aperturesto connect therewith, whereby the V:side of the wick will project'V through the slit and engage the face of the jaw member which lits in said groove.

l 6. Av universal joint having two vcoupling elements j for f connection respectively with two shafts, an'intermediate'hollow spherical Ymember, Y each vcoupling element having two 'Y jaws and -a cooperatingrstrap 'member which togetherr encircle the spherical member and have a tongue and groove engagement with 1 the sphericalmember, bushings between the interengaging portions of the jaws and the Y spherical member, the spherical member beingjformed with a plurality of apertures through itsrperiphery, and plugging wicks in saidapertures whose inner ends are exposed to oil inthe interior of the spherical member and which conduct the oil through the wall ofthe spherical member to the said cooperating coupling members. Y

7 .l A universal joint havingtwo coupling elements Vfor connection respectively with two shafts, an intermediate hollow spherical member, each coupling element having two Yj aWs :and a cooperating strap member which v e together encircle the sphericalmember and Y' `havea tongue Vand `groove engagement with the sphericalmember, bushings between the interengagingportions of the jaws and the :spherical member, the spherical member being formed with a plurality of apertures through its periphery, plugging wicks in said apertures whose inner ends are exposed to oil in the interior of the spherical member and which conduct the oil through the Wall of the spherical member to the said cooperating coupling members, said bushings being separable from the coupling elements, said bushings and coupling elements having interengaging portions for locking them together in a manner to permit them to be detached when the coupling members are detached.

8. VA universal joint having two coupling velements for connection respectively with two shafts, an intermediate hollow spherical member, each coupling element having two jaws and a cooperating strap member which together encircle the spherical member and have a tongue and groove engagement with the spherical member, bushings between the interengaging portions of the jaws and the spherical member, the spherical member being formed with a pluralitv of apertures through its periphery, plugging wicks in said apertures whose inner ends are exposed to oil in the interior of the spherical member and which conduct the oil through the wall of the spherical member to the said cooperating coupling members, said bushings being shaped to fit the contour of the inner periphery of the coupling members and the strap members, and having a laterally extending flange on its inner periphery formed with teeth at its ends, and the said jaws and straps being formed with notches with which said teeth engage to lock the bushings to the jaws to prevent :i rotary sliding movement of the bushings with relation to the jaws and straps.`

9. A universal joint comprising two coupling members and an intermediate hollow lubricant holder having a curved periphery, each coupling member having a sliding en* gagement with the periphery of the said lubricant holder, means whereby the lubricant is fed from the said holder to the bearing surfaces of the said 'coupling members, anti-centrifugal, oil baiing joints between the said coupling members and said lubricant holder, and covers closely fitting over said joints to prevent the escape of lubricant and entrance of dust.

l0. A universal jointcomprising two conpling members for connection respectively with two shafts, and an intermediate hollow lubricant holder having a curved periphery, a tongue-and-groove connection between the outer surfaces of said lubricant holder and each of said coupling members, means whereby lubricant is fed from the interior of said holder to the bearing surfaces of said coupling members and lubricant holder, anti-centrifugal, oil baling joints between VVsaid coupling members and said lubricant (lll holder, and covers closely fitting over the said joints to prevent escape of lubricant and entrance of clust.

ll. A universal joint having two coupling elements, an intermediate hollow lubricant container, said coupling elements having jaws which have a tongue-anclgroove engagement with the lubricant container7 means whereby the lubricant is fed 10 from the container to the nterengaging surfaces of the coupling members and the lubricant container, and members which contact with the outer faces of the engaging portions of the lubricant 'container and coupling members and closely cover the joints 15 between said container and members.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signacoupling 

